Day two of the 2026 TrialGP of Japan delivered a very different story from the season opener on Saturday. While the results once again placed familiar names at the top of the standings, Sunday at Mobility Resort Motegi became a lesson in pressure management, consistency and recovery under the unforgiving new TrialGP format.
Under another scorching Japanese sun, the sections evolved throughout the day. Grip remained high, but the pressure increased dramatically as riders battled through Race One, Super Pole, the Final and ultimately the decisive Super Final. The smallest mistake carried huge consequences, especially in Trial2 where scores remained incredibly tight from start to finish.
Bou Turns Pressure Into Another Statement Victory
Defending world champion Toni Bou once again looked untouchable when it mattered most, but unlike Saturday, Sunday’s victory was built less on outright domination and more on his ability to absorb pressure at critical moments.
Gabriel Marcelli actually started the stronger of the two Repsol Honda riders, remaining clean through the opening six sections before finally taking a dab on section seven. Jaime Busto also looked capable of challenging for victory early on, while Matteo Grattarola stayed firmly in contention after another aggressive start.
The opening race shifted dramatically at section ten, where a sequence of massive steps punished riders who lost rhythm on the approach. Busto suffered a costly maximum while Bou escaped with just a single mark lost. That composure proved decisive.
Bou closed Race One with a clean and a single dab to secure victory on five marks lost, ahead of Grattarola on seven and Busto on eight. Marcelli’s challenge collapsed after a maximum on section eleven dropped him back to fourth.
What made Bou’s performance particularly impressive was how he elevated his level every time the format intensified. He topped Super Pole, survived the Final despite Busto’s outstanding score of one, and then delivered another near-perfect ride in the Super Final.
The Super Final itself became the defining moment of the weekend. With scores reset to zero and enormous pressure mounting, Bou delivered the cleanest and calmest performance of the field. The opening section immediately punished both Grattarola and Gelabert with maximums, while Bou, Marcelli and Busto somehow stayed feet-up through the technical double-step.
The decisive moment came on section three when Busto slipped offline on the rocky climb and took a five. Bou and Marcelli cleaned the section, setting up a tense two-rider fight over the closing hazards.
Bou’s clean ride on section four opened the gap after Marcelli took two marks, before the veteran Spaniard sealed victory with a flawless final section. It was another reminder that Bou’s greatest strength may no longer be raw aggression, it is his ability to remain technically perfect when the pressure peaks.
“The Super Final was very difficult because there was so much pressure, but the weekend has been amazing for the team and it is amazing to be here.” – Toni Bou
TrialGP Overall Results – Day Two
| Pos | Rider | Machine | Nation | R1 Score | Super Final | Championship Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toni Bou | Montesa | Spain | 5 | 10 | 40 |
| 2 | Jaime Busto | Beta | Spain | 8 | 9 | 30 |
| 3 | Gabriel Marcelli | Montesa | Spain | 9 | 14 | 30 |
| 4 | Matteo Grattarola | Beta | Italy | 7 | 19 | 30 |
| 5 | Miquel Gelabert | Honda | Spain | 13 | 25 | 22 |
Abellan Remains the Benchmark Despite Losing Her Perfect Record
Although Berta Abellan did not complete another clean sweep on Sunday, the reigning TrialGP Women champion arguably strengthened her title credentials even further.
Her opening race was as dominant as anything seen all weekend. Abellan completed the lap without losing a single mark, finishing thirteen clear of Andrea Sofia Rabino and Alessia Bacchetta.
The second race, however, exposed how little margin exists at the highest level. One mistake on section four, a costly maximum, immediately opened the door for the rest of the field.
Bacchetta took full advantage. The twenty-one-year-old Italian delivered the ride of her career with a winning total of six marks lost, securing her first major TrialGP Women victory and proving she may now be a genuine podium contender throughout the season.
Abellan still salvaged second overall after winning a tie-break with Alice Minta, ensuring she leaves Japan with the strongest points haul of the weekend. More importantly, she demonstrated the ability to recover quickly after a major error, something champions consistently do.
“My first lap today was amazing. I made a mistake on the second lap and scored a five that was too difficult to recover from, but I’m so happy to start the season like this.” – Berta Abellan
TrialGP Women – Day Two Highlights
| Pos | Rider | Machine | Nation | Key Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berta Abellan | Scorpa | Spain | Perfect Race One, overall points leader |
| 2 | Alessia Bacchetta | GASGAS | Italy | Won Race Two with six marks |
| 3 | Andrea Sofia Rabino | Beta | Italy | Consistent podium pace all day |
| 4 | Kaytlyn Adshead | Vertigo | Great Britain | Another strong top-five finish |
Billy Green Wins the Survival Battle in Trial2
If TrialGP showcased composure at the very highest level, Trial2 became a story about survival and consistency.
George Hemingway looked set to dominate after taking victory in the opening race with just twelve marks lost, matching the impressive pace he showed on Saturday. But the second race completely changed the narrative.
Hemingway’s second run unravelled quickly with three costly maximums dropping him to thirteenth in Race Two. That opened the door for Billy Green.
The 2023 champion had endured a frustrating first race in sixth place, but he responded perfectly with one of the cleanest rides of the entire weekend. Green dropped only two marks in Race Two to secure overall victory by the narrowest of margins.
Francesco Titli came incredibly close after posting five-two finishes across the day, while Norwegian rider Jarand Gunvaldsen produced one of the breakthrough performances of the weekend with third overall.
Perhaps the biggest long-term story came from Alex Canales. While others alternated between brilliance and disaster, the Spaniard quietly pieced together fourth and fifth place finishes to retain the championship lead heading into Andorra.
“I’m super-happy to get a win on day two. I eliminated a few mistakes in the second race and it’s a great feeling.” – Billy Green
Trial2 Overall Results – Day Two
| Pos | Rider | Machine | Nation | R1 | R2 | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Green | Scorpa | Great Britain | 16 | 2 | 30 |
| 2 | Francesco Titli | Montesa | Italy | 15 | 4 | 28 |
| 3 | Jarand Gunvaldsen | TRRS | Norway | 13 | 12 | 27 |
| 4 | Alex Canales | Montesa | Spain | 14 | 10 | 24 |
| 5 | George Hemingway | Beta | Great Britain | 12 | 17 | 23 |
What Day Two Revealed About the 2026 Championship
Sunday at Motegi revealed three major themes that could shape the remainder of the 2026 TrialGP season.
First, Toni Bou remains almost unbeatable when events become mentally demanding. Riders like Busto and Marcelli have the raw pace to challenge him, but Bou still controls decisive moments better than anyone else in the sport.
Second, the TrialGP Women category appears far more competitive than last season. Bacchetta’s breakthrough victory and Rabino’s consistency suggest Abellan may face stronger opposition throughout the year.
Finally, Trial2 already looks completely unpredictable. Riders capable of winning races are also capable of finishing outside the top ten within hours. On sections this technical, consistency may become more valuable than outright brilliance.
The paddock now heads into a four-week break before the championship resumes at the TrialGP of Andorra on 12-14 June, where altitude, grip changes and sharper terrain will present an entirely different challenge.